Ignition device for internal-combustion engines.



S. KENDALL. IGNITION DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

- APPLICATION FILED Aus.3,1914.

1,146,800, PatentedJuly 20, `1915.

y 5 L I I' I y IV gumlnimmlllmIIIIIIIIII 5 I l L 12 TOI-IN SIEGFRIED KENDALL, OF HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA.

IGNITION 'DEVICE son INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

' Application and august s,

ignition devices for internal combustion engines, and the object' of the invention is to devise positive means for igniting the full charge inf'ft-he cylinders of said engines, as

' opposed to the more or less inefficient methy of the contacting device.

ods at present employed.'f

The invention consists .of the parts constructed and arranged as hereinaftermore particularl 1 described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic plan of my device 'with an elevation` of the commutator and contacting device. Fig. 2 is, a plan view of lthe aforesaid contacting de-,y vice. Fig, 3 is an elevation of the contacting device. Fig. 4 is a detail of the main arm and pivot of the contacting vd eviee. .-Fig. 5 is a detail of the contact plate Fig. 6 comprises an elevation and top and bottom plans of the multiple spark plug. Fig. 7 represents a central vertical section through Fig. 6 with a cap shown partially infposition on thespark plug. Fig. 18 is la plan view' of the inside of the .cap shown in section in Fi .7

Ignike characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views. 4In Fig. '1, 1 is a battery supplying cur' rent to vthe primary winding 2 ofthe induction. coil. 4 is a contacting device in the primary circuit connected in series with the battery 1 and the rimary Winding 2 of the inductionfcoil, an' has in parallel across itsterminals a condenser 5 adapted to prevent'sparking at the contacts. 7 and 8 are gear ,wheels having the ratio of 1 to 2 and the wheel 7 carries with it a quad ruple earn 46 and turns at. the same speed as the engine main shaft. This cam actuates the contacting device 4. The gear 8 has a ccmmutator arm 9 mounted thereon and. insulated therefrom, and this arm by as, current the secondary winding 3 of the in rotation makes contactwith each of the; four contact plates 1.0, successively. In the sccondarycircuit we have as our source of lthe opposite end of the arm 14 to Specification of Letters Patent.

:Patented July 2o, 1915. 1914. serial No. 854,751'.

duction coil. In series with this are connected theI commutator arm 9, the spark plug 12 and the engine frame 11.- On leaving the secondary winding 3 of the coil, the current passes to the commutator arm 9 where it is delivered to one of the `four contact plates 10 and passes thence to the cor` responding spark gap in the plug l2. Upon jumping 'the spark gap it is returned to the induction coil through the engine frame. The safety spark gap 13 is included in the circuit as a protection vfor the induction coil,

c incase the circuit is broken. The contacting device 4 in the primary circuit comprises a T-shaped main arm 14, to the head of vwhich is attached by screws 24 so as .to be insulated therefrom by the plate 15, the right angledstrip 16. Near the free end of this strip is located a small bearing Wheel -17 to prevent -the free endv from Wearing away by rubbing. The mainy arm 14 has a .pin 19 located therein adjacent to its conn ection to the bent strip 16, and this pin is rigidly secured to the base-plate 18. At

that carrying the pin 19, isa contact screw 20 having a platinum point. Immediately opposite this screw, on the bent plate 1 6, is located another platinum contact. It will be easily seen that as the cam 6 revolves each tooth thereon will engage the Wheel 17 a and push the plate 16 into contact with the point of the screw 20, thus mary circuit. It -is of course understood that the contact device 4 must be timed to work synchronuously with the commutator bar 9 ,and plates l0, otherwise the high tension impulses induced inthe secondary circuit could never reach the spark plug. The screw 20 may be adjusted to increase or decrease the gap between its point and the bent plate 16, by the lock' nut 21 near its head. The quadruple cam 6 is retained on the end of its shaft, bythe screw 23' and washer 22.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 my quadruple spark c closing the priloe plug 12 is shown. 25'is the metallic casingA of the plug, and isV threaded at its lower end for connection to the engine cylinder. The .four bent .members 26 are secured to the casing 25 about'its lower circumference and-together with the four insulated conductors end distinct s ark gaps. -28 is a washer lo. cated where t e area of the plu chan es, and 29- is an insulating core retained w1th- 27, form four separate4 be produced.

'in the metal-casingof;I the plug by a threaded flange 30, composed of some insulating material. The flange bears on the shoulder 3l of said .insulating core and thus when screwed down into contact retains the same in position. 32 is a smooth fitting cap of insulation adapted to fit snu ly over thetop of the core 29. It contains four separate metallic pockets 33 into which the ends'l of. the conductors 27 project when the cap is in position. Leads 34 pass from the aforesaid pockets out through the top of the cap to a four-strand cable 35, and this in turn is connected to the contact plates l0 of `the commutator. The use of the cap 3Q is obvious. Tt prevents short circuiting be tween the conductors 27 as the result of oil, etc., lodging there, and also prevents the accumulationof dirt. Another advantage itpossesses is the simple and effective connection formed thereby between the cable 35 and plug 12.

The operation of my device is as follows :,.-When the engine is on dead center, and the stroke is just commencing, or possibly a little before this, the end tooth of the uadruple cam 6 engages the roller' 17 on t econtact plate 16, and presses the platinum point on said plate into contact with the platinum point of the screw 20. This closes 'the prima-ry circuit, and the battery 1 will now cause a current to iiow therethrough. At the same instant that contact is made between the plate 16 and the screw 20, the commutatorarm 9 on the gear 8 will be in contact with the end contact plate l0..

Thus the secondary circuit .will also be closed if the spark gap at the plug is neglected. Since it is a. high tension circuit this gap is negligible, and thus the high voltage induced in the secondary winding of ,the induction coil willbe sucient tc bridge the gap in thespak plug and a spark will The o eration above described will be repea'te four times, namely as each tooth on the cam 6 engages the wheel 17. Since the teeth areAv all close together, the four sparks producedI will occur one after the other in a comparativel early portion of the stroke. The sparks o not occur simultaneously, and hence a great advantage of my device is thateach spark produced is the maximum size obtainable from the source of current at my disposal. In any four gap plugsat present in use, lthis is not thecase, the sparks occuringsimultanepus'ly,

and hence being practically onesp'ark split up into four correspondingly smaller' ones. Also, in present `rsystems of ignition it is customaryto'produce one spark early in the stroke, and trust to this to ignite the charge. As is well known the charge highly compressed when this spark occurs, and in this conditionit tends slightly. to'liquefy. This is -not favcnable'xto ignition, and hence a conducting means connecting each spark plug with its distributing means.

incase@ miss is often the result. In' my device the I irst spark occurs when the stroke com-` mences, or slightly before. The charge may" ignite at this point or it may not. If it does., not the second spark has an opportunity to act. This process is repeated four 'times and the charge is ignited. Should the first spark fire the gas, it is quite possible that Athere may not be complete combustion, and in this event the piston will receive a fresh impulse as each spark occurs, due to some unburned gas taking fire at each spark.

In my drawin s I have shown the apparatus arranged For .igniting a single cylinder en ine. This, of course, is intended to be dup icated as often as a cylinder is added,

and it may be readily seen that my device is as easily adaptable to six cylinders as ito one.. The source of electric current is also shown dagrammatically as a battery of cells',

used in con'un'ction with an induction coil, This is not lntended to limit my device to a Alow tension source, as it may be applied equally well when drawing from lem-intermediate or high tension', and Whether supplied by batteries, coils or magnetos. The contacting device I emplo j may also be modified considerably wit out departing y from the spirit of the invention, and the.

.to secure by Letters Patent is l. ln an ignition device for internal comf` bustion engines, the combination with the source of high tension current, of. distributing means for each spark plug, a multiple spark plug producing successive sparks for each explosive stroke of the piston, and a plurality of mutually insulated conducting means connecting each sparkplug with its distributing means.

- 2. 1n an ignition device for internal combustion engines, the combination with the source of high tension current, of distributing means for each spa-rk plug, afmultiple spark plug producing successive sparks in each cylinder as the result of such distribution, and a plurality of mutually insulated 3. In .in ignition device for internal combuston engines, the combination with the. source of high tension current, of a suitably rotating commutator arm, contact plates over which said arm passes and with -which it makes sliding contact, and a multiple spark plug with spark gaps to correspond inl number with the number of said contact plates.

- 4. In an ignition 'device for `internal combustion engines, the combination with thel source of high tension current, -of distributing means for each spark plug, a mul'- tiple spark plug with gaps which are adapted to spark in succession, and an insulation cap adapted to fit smoothly over the top of said plug and having multiple pockets therein'into which theinultiple conductors of the 10 plug are designed to enter and make contact, said pockets having connection through the top of the cap with a multiple strand cable.

5. In an ignition device for internal combustion engines, the combination with the high tension circuit comprising the source' bustion engines, the combination with the secondary circuit comprising a source of high tension current, distributing means for each spark plug, and a multiple spark plug producing successive sparks in each cylinder aas the result of such distribution, of aprimary circuit comprising a low tension current source, means for producing a high tension source therefrom, a-contacting depvice consisting of a multiple cam` adapted to bring a platinum contact on a spring plate intoengagement With the point of a 40 contact screw, and a condenser connected t0 l the terminals of said contacting device.

7. In an ignition device for internal combustion engines, the combination with the secondary, circuit comprising distributing means for each spark plug, a multiple spark plug .with gaps which are adapted to spark in succession, and an insulation cap adapted to fit lsmoothly over the topof said plug, and having multiple pockets -therein into which .the multiple conductors of the plugare designed to enter and make contact, said pocketshaving connection through the top of the cap With'a multiple strand cable, of a primary circuit comprising a low tension current source, means for producing a high tension. source therefrom, acontacting device consisting of a multiple cam adapted to bringfa platinum-'contact onta spring plateA intoengagement with the pint of a contact screw, and a condenser connected to the terminals of said contacting device.

' '8. -In an ignition device for internal come. bustion engines, the combination-" mith'i secondary circuit comprisingV a source' o high tension current, a suitably rotating commutator arm, contact plates `over-Which said arm passes and with which it makes sliding contact, and a multiple spark plug with spark gaps to correspond number With the number of said contact plates, of a primary circuit comprising a low tension current source, means for producing a high tension source therefrom, a contacting device designeo. to intermittently close the circuit,- and a condenser across the terminals of saldi-contacting device.

, In testimony whereof, I have signed at the i city of Hamilton, in the county "of Went- Worth, in the Province of Ontario, Canada,- this 30th day of July, 1914.

' JOHN SIEGFRIED KENDALL. Witnesses: F. J.,GAv1i\r,

' Gr. I-I. HALLY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents' each, ny addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

